Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney respond to Trump's peaceful transfer of power remarks

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President Trump gets pressed on the peaceful transfer of power by the media

White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern provides insight on 'FOX News @ Night.'

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, called President Trump's answer to a question about the peaceful transfer of power regarding the 2020 election "unthinkable and unacceptable," while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell emphasized that "there will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792."

McConnell insisted that Republicans are not rejecting the importance of a peaceful transfer of power.

"The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th," he wrote on Twitter on Thursday. "There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792."

Meanwhile, Romney blasted Trump's remarks on Wednesday by making a comparison to Belarus, where citizens are protesting the reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko, which the opposing parties say was rigged.

"Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," Romney wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. "Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable."

Romney is a frequent critic of Trump but made headlines on Tuesday when he said he supports the Senate moving forward with a Supreme Court nominee from Trump ahead of the presidential election. Romney's announcement opened a lane for Trump's potential nominee to clear the Senate with at least 50 Republican votes and Vice President Mike Pence to break the tie.

On Wednesday, a reporter asked Trump: “Win, lose or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferal of power after the election?”

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Trump repeated his unsubstantiated claim that mail-in voting could lead to widespread voter fraud.

“We're going to have to see what happens," Trump said during a White House news conference. "You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster."

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, asks a question to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a Senate Foreign Relations committee hearing on the State Department's 2021 budget on Capitol Hill Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Washington. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)

The reporter, Playboy's Brian Karem, pressed the president, noting the anti-police riots that have plagued some American cities over the summer.

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“Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful — there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation,” Trump said, referring to mail-in ballots. “The ballots are out of control. You know it, and you know who knows it better than anyone else? The Democrats know it better than anyone else.”

In addition to Romney, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, took aim at Trump over the remarks.

"Throughout America’s history, the peaceful transition of power has been a hallmark of our democracy. This year, both candidates must commit to abiding by the results, no matter the outcome," Portman wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, appeared to take issue with the president's remarks as well.

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"Nothing defines our Constitutional Republic more than the peaceful transition of power. I’ve taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and I will uphold that oath," Stivers wrote on Twitter. "Regardless of how divided our country is right now, when elections are over and winners are declared, we must all commit ourselves to the Constitution and accept the results."

Stivers represents Ohio's 15th Congressional District, which is rated R+7 on the Cook Partisan Voting Index.

Fox News' Brie Stimson, Tyler Olson and Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.